Sources of Financial Aid

A significant amount of financial aid is available as a result of the generosity of Catholics from the four counties of the diocese. These funds have been entrusted to the parishes for the sacred works of the Catholic Church. This funds ensures that Catholic schools remain affordable to all families that desire such an education.

Diocesan Endowment FundsOnly the interest monies from these endowments are used to find tuition assistance, while the principal amount of the endowment remains intact.

St. Gerard Financial Aid Endowment Fund: A $1.5 million donation was received by a generous local family. Since the family wishes to remain anonymous, the name St. Gerard was chose as the fund's name.

Diocesan Financial Aid Endowment: This endowment is funded by $2.5 million in gifts through the Honoring Our Past...Shaping Our Future capital campaign, and receives nearly $100,000 per year from the diocese and the Catholic Schools Week special collection held in diocesan parishes on the last Sunday of January.

Tuition Transfe​r Grants Up to $3,000Any public, private or charter school student who transfers into a participating diocesan Catholic school is eligible to receive a Bishop's Tuition Transfer Grant.

Scholarship Partners Foundation ​(SPF)This foundation​ was established by the diocese in order to take advantage of the Educational I​mprovement Tax Credit (EITC) program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It receives contributions from companies that do business in Pennsylvania and pay certain state taxes in exchange for business tax credits. Companies must apply for the tax credits and receive approval from the state's Department of Community and Economic Development. Several companies participating in the program have designated their donation be used for aid at a particular diocesan school. These gifts are used to benefit qualifying families at the local school level. State-mandated income guidelines determine eligibility for families to receive aid from SPF.Learn more about this foundation.

School Tuition Assistance​Many schools have successful development and fund-raising programs that can be significant sources of tuition assistance for families at the local school level.